Furnace.



A. FISHER. FURNACE.

APPLIGATION FILED OUT. 26, 1908.

Patented May 17, 1910.

3 SHEETS-631KB? 1 A. FISHER.

FURNAGE.

' APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2s, 1 908.

Patented May 17, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

I ll

IIIMIIII' s/rek OFFICE.

ALFRED FISHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May it, 1910..

Application filed October 26, 1908. Serial No. 459,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED FIsHER, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a. part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of furnaces adapted for the meltingof metals or the like and generally known as Pot furnaces.

Heretofore it has been practically' unknown in the furnace art to securea practically even distribution of heat to the pot, and in consequenceto melt the charge, certain portions of the surface of the pot weresubjected to a very much higher temperature than other portions, causingwarping of the pot and soon destroying the same, but, what was moreserious, causing the charge to heat unequally so that certain portionsof the charge were subjected to an unnecessarily high temperature whileother portions were subjected to a temperature hardly sufficient to meltthe same. This difiiculty of suit-ably distributing the heat to thepothas caused such furnaces to be used much less than their real merit(when properly constructed) would otherwise have insured.

It is an object of this invention to afford a pot furnace adapted to beheated by any suitable hydro-carbon or fluid fuel, and so constructed asto insure the heating of the entire pot to practically uniformtemperature by means of an ascending spiral flame, which surrounds andinvests all parts of the pot, heating all portions thereof alike.

It is a further object of the invention to afiord a construction inwhich a tight fitting cover is adj ustably secured to removably coverthe pot and is provided with means whereby the same may be elevated andswung away from the pot when desired with slight expenditure ofstrength.

It is a further object of the invention to afford a discharge opening inthe bottom of the furnace normally closed by a door, and which may beopened to permit the discharge therefrom of the metal should a pot fromany cause, break.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and morefully pointed out p and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the furnace embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a reduced top plan view with one side brokenaway to disclosethe burner. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.Fig. 4: is a section on line 4l4c of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail sectionillustrating the attachmentof the lugs with a portion of the casing.Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the discharge end of the burner.Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section on line88 of Fig. 4:.

As shown in the drawings: The furnace proper comprises an outer casingof metal and an inner lining of fire brick, in which is supported thepot to contain the metal to be melted. Said casing, as shown, comprisesa bottom casting A, and is cup shaped in form to receive thecorrespondingly shaped fire brick lining B, which affords the bottom ofthe furnace. Said bottom casing member A, is provided with downwardlydirected shoulders a, arranged approximately ninety degrees apart, andwhich afford attachment for the legs a, as shown four in number,constructed by casting or otherwise to afford substantially a channelbar, one end of which fits on the shoulders a, and the other of whichsupports the device as a whole upon the floor. An enlarged aperture isprovided in the bottom of the bottom casing member A, and pivotallysupported on the rear legs of the furnace is a lever C, to which isbolted or otherwise secured a closing plate a, on which is securedfilling blocks c c of suitable fire brick and which, as shown, taperupwardly to fit in the aperture in the bottom of the casing.

The aperture in the bottom lining B, of

fire brick is circular in form, located at the center thereof and tapersinwardly to afford a positive fit for the fire brick filling blocks 0 asshown in Figs. 3 and t. Said bottom casing member A, is provided at itsperiphery at the top thereof with an outwardly directed bead, affordingan upwardly and inwardly directed hp a and seated therein is thecylindric shell D, con structed .of metal plates, and within which isfitted fire brick B, toafford the inner walls of the furnace and whichfiare slightly outward toward the top. Bolted on the front side of theshell D, is a metallic frame (Z, on which is hinged a door d, providedwith a central view aperture (Z and as shown, said door is lined in itsinterior with fire brick d which fits against the outwardly directedsides of the fire bric {S which protrude to a greater or less extentthrough the door casing or frame d. A flue vent passage E, is providedat the top and one side of the furnace and is directed horizontallyoutward, the fire brick lining at that point being extended for thatpurpose, and bolted on the shell D, is a casing or frame of metal plates6, which serve to protect and support the fire brick walls of saidpassage Fitted in said furnace and tapering downwardly from the topsomewhat perpendicularly, is the pot or crucible F. This is constructedof metal, (usually iron), and is provided with a peripheral flange atits top, which seats on the fire brick surrounding the top of thefurnace, effectually closing the furnace at its top and serving at alltimes to support the pot and itscharge in the furnace. An annular bandor top casing D, provided with a peripheral bead (Z extends down overthe casing D, and at its top rests on the fire brick and afiords meansfor rigidly securing all parts of the furnace together, comprisingapertured lugs (Z which are arranged to register with corresponding lugsd, in the bottom casing member A, and through which extend bolts (Z asshown four in number, although any desired number may be used to serveto bind the structure as a whole. together.

Supported on the top plate 6 .of the flue or vent casing is a mast orpivot pin 6*, and slidably and rotatably mounted thereon is a sleeve 6rigidly connected with which is an arm a, which extends approximately toa point above the center of the furnace and there is rigidly connectedwith a vertical sleeve 6 provided on opposite sides with longitudinalslots to receive the elevating pins 6 secured on a stem F. This stem, asshown, is bolted centrally on a cover F, constructed, as shown, of upperand lower plates of metal between which is provided asbestos insulation,which serves to confine the heat within the furnace, and, as shown, adouble cam /f, is pivotally supported on the side arm or the side of thesleeve 0 in position to engage the lifting pin 6, to elevate the cover.As shown, the cam f, is provided with an integral stem f which extendsthrough a lug or projection on the side of said sleeve 6 and at itsouter end f is squared, as shown in Fig. 8, to engage in a suitable seatin the cam f, which is retained in place thereon by means of a suitablenut, as shown in Fig. 8. The cam f", as shown, is provided with anintegral handle f whereby the cams may be swung upwardly or downwardly.to elevate or depress the cover and when elevated the cover may beswung to the right or left upon the mast or pivot pin 0, to expose theentire top of the pot, if desired.

The burners may be one or more in number. If one, as shown in thedrawings, said burner is located below the flue or vent opening and isdirected tangentially with the inner wall of the furnace and downwardlyto direct the blaze spirally beneath said vent opening and around thefurnace and pot, and is located, as shown, between the door and saidvent or flue. Of course, another burner may be introduced diametricallyopposite and also is directed downwardly in the same manner.

The burner, as shown, comprises an outer casing G, which tapers towardits inner end to a discharge pipe 9, which is laid in the brick work,and threaded into the larger end of the casing, is a fitting g, threadedinto the inner end .of which is a fuel pipe g, of slightly less diameterthan the discharge pipe 9, and which extends approximately to the innerend of said discharge pipe or nozzle. In the outer end of the fitting g,is threaded the supply pipe 9 for the hydrocarbon fiuid such as crudeoil or other suitable materials. Arranged at one side of the casing G,and opening thereinto is an air valve casing G, having therein arotative plug valve closure g open at its inner end and on one side tocommunicate in the easing .G, is provided 011 its outer end with a stem9 adapted to be engaged by a wrench or other means to adjust the same toa suitable air supply. As shown also, an air pipe 57 communicates withthe inner or open end of the plug valve closure and may be connectedwith any suitable source of air pressure, as, for instance, a blower,whereby the air supply is forced therethrough and through the casing G,and passing into the nozzle g, on all sides of the fluid pipe 9 spraysthe hydro-carbon fluid mixture therethrough into the combustion chamberof the furnace, as before described. Of course, any suitable valve isprovided for controlling the supply of hydrocarbon or to regulate therelative flow of the hydro-carbon and air.

The operation is as follows: In charging the furnace, the cam lever f islifted, thereby elevating the cover, which may be then swung on the maste, clear to the top of the pot into which the charge is inserted. Thecover is then swung back over the pot and is lowered by means .of thecam lever f, to entirely close and seal the same. The combustion is thenstarted at the burner and the discharge nozzle being heated, because ofthe intense heat of the fire brick, perfect generation results andbecause of the arrangement of the air inlet with reference to the fuelsupply, a perfect mixture results, which is forced in a steady blastinto the furnace and tangentially downwardly against the inner wallthereof, the burning mixture during its combustion passing several timesaround the furnace in a spiral course, and thence outwardly through thefiue. In consequence, the entire area of the pot is subjected to intenseheat, not alone from the actual combustion of the mixture, but as wellbecause of the intense heat due to the hot temperature attained by thefire brick and in consequence, the metal is melted uniformly and veryquickly. Of course, the temperature may be perfectly regulated by theadjustment of the burner, and the melting having been completed, furthercombustion may be immediately discontinued by closing the supply valveduring pouring.

Should it ever occur that a pot should be broken depositing in thebottom of the furnace the melted or partly melted metal, the furnace maybe immediately cleared ready for the insertion of a new pot and acontinuance of the use of the furnace by releasing the handle 0, fromits latch or support 0, as shown in Fig. 3, thus opening the bottom ofthe furnace to permit the same being immediately cleared.

Of course, details of construction may be varied. I therefore do notpurpose limiting this application for patent otherwise than necessitatedby the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a furnace of a metal pot supported therein, aflue leading from the top of the furnace, a blast burner below said fluepositioned to direct its blast tangentially into the furnace, and abottom door positioned to close an aperture in the bottom of the furnacethrough which may be removed any material in the fire pot.

2. The combination with a furnace of a metal pot supported therein, aflue leading from the top of the furnace, a blast burner below said fluepositioned to direct its blast tangentially into the furnace, a bottomdoor positioned to close an aperture in the bottom of the furnacethrough which may be removed any material in the fire pot, a cover forthe pot, and mechanism for lifting the same.

The combination with a furnace of a metal pot supported therein, a fineleading from the top of the furnace, a hydro-carbon blast burner belowand at one side of said flue positioned to direct its heat tangentiallyand downwardly into the furnace, a bottom door positioned to close anaperture in the bottom of the furnace through which may be removed anymaterial in the fire pot, and a side door opening into the furnace.

4. The combination with a pot shaped furnace, of a metal pot having arim sus pended from the top of the furnace by the rim, a cover for thepot, a flue leading from the top of the furnace, a blast burnerpositioned to direct its blast tangentially and downwardly into thefurnace below the pot, and a bottom door positioned to close an aperturein the bottom of the furnace through which may be removed any materialin the fire pot.

5. The combination with a pot shaped furnace open-topped, of a metal pothaving a rim supported therein by its'rim and closing the top, a fineleading from the top of the furnace, a hydro-carbon blast burnerpositioned at one side of'and below said fine to direct its blasttangentially and clownwardly into the furnace, a bottom door positionedto close an aperture in the bottom of the furnace through which may beremoved any material in the fire pot, an insulating cover for the potand mechanism for actuating the same.

6. The combination with a pot shaped furnace open at the top, of a metalpot having a rim supported therein by its rim and closing the top, aflue leading from the top of the furnace, a hydro-carbon blast burnerpositioned to direct its blast tangentially and downwardly into thefurnace below and at one side of said flue, a bottom door positioned toclose an aperture in the bottom of the furnace, a door in the side ofthe furnace, a cover for the pot, a standard supported on one side ofthe furnace, an arm journaled thereon, and a cam on said arm connectedto lift the cover.

7. In a device of the class described a furnace having a rounded bottom,a pot supported therein and closing the furnace and a blast burnerinclined to direct its blast on the bottom of the furnace from which theblast is deflected in a spiral course around the pot and a flue at thetop of the furnace opening from the side.

8. A pot furnace having an aperture in its bottom, a door closing saidaperture, a pot supported in the furnace and a burner for directing ablast downwardly into the furnace and tangentially of the pot.

9. In a device of the class described a furnace having a rounded bottomand walls tapering gradually outwardly from said bottom to direct theheat spirally around the furnace, a crucible suspended centrally in thefurnace and a blast burner opening into the furnace.

10. In a device of the class described a furnace, a crucible suspendedtherein above .the bottom of the furnace, a flue at the top of thefurnace and a blast burner opening into the furnace directedtransversely of the flue adapted to deliver a blast transversely of andbelow the fine.

11. A pot furnace comprising a furnace, a pot therein, said furnacehaving walls shaped to direct a blast spirally. around the pot, a flueopening from one end of the furnace, a blast burner openlng into theopposite end of the furnace necessitating the blast passing around thepot a plurality of times between the burner and flue, a casing inclosingthe flue, a shaft secured to the easing and a cover for the potpivotally connected to the shaft to swing laterally from the pot.

12. In a device of the class described a furnace, a pot supportedtherein having its bottom and side Walls out of contact with thefurnace, a blast burner for directing a 'its inner wall concave, a sidesection removably secured to the bottom section, means rigidly clampingthe sect-ions together, a crucible in the furnace having its bottom andsides out of contact with the furnace, a blast burner opening into thefurnace at one end of the crucible and a flue opening from the furnaceat the opposite end of the crucible.

14. In a device of the class described a furnace provided with anopening in its bottom, a crucible therein having its bottom and sidesout of contact with the furnace, a blast burner opening into the furnaceat one end of the crucible, a flue opening from the furnace at theopposite end of the crucible, a cover closing the crucible pivoted toswing to expose the crucible and a tapered door for closing said openingin the bottom of the furnace.

15. In a device of the class described a furnace having a rounded bottomand side walls gradually tapering outwardly therefrom, a crucibledepending into the furnace and providing a space between the bottom andsides thereof and the furnace, and a blast burner secured to the furnaceto deliver a blast tangentially to the pot.

16. In a device of the class described a. furnace having a roundedbottom and side walls gradually tapering outwardly therefrom, a crucibledepending into the furnace and providing a space between the bottom andsides thereof and the furnace, a blast burner secured to the furnace todeliver a blast tangentially to the pot, and upon the rounded bottom ofthe furnace, said bottom adapted to deflect the blast in a spiral coursearound the pot, and a flue at the top of the pot.

17. In a device of the class described a furnace having the bottom onits inner side rounded and an opening in the bottom, side wallsdetachably secured to the bottom wall tapering slightly outwardly, acrucible having a rim to support itself in the furnace, a door forclosing the opening in the bottom of the furnace, and a blast burneropening into the furnace.

18. In a device of the class described a furnace, a crucible thereinshaped to close the top of the furnace, a pivotally supported coveradapted to rest on the crucible and close the same, means for elevatingthe cover and swinging the same to expose the crucible, said furnacehaving a tapered aperture in its bottom and a tapered door adapted tofit in said aperture and close the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED FISHER IVitnesses H. E. HANNAH, J. W. ANGELL.

